I am concerned over the connection showing John SR to Capt Joseph of Augusta Co, VA. Have seen this theory before but, never any source or document to help prove any connection. Much like the Dr Joseph being the brother of John SR... possible but, no primary source known. The trouble is that John SR could fit in several Kennedy families, including Andrew of Lunenburg Co, VA. or the John Kennedy of Lancaster Co, PA.

So, what I was thinking is if we could try and pin down the earliest known residence of both John Sr and James Sr. and work from there. So, I will throw out some documents, and thought we could dissect and discuss them....

Believe these are probably John, son of Felix but, it is possible that not all of them are??

1748 VA; Augusta Co. Records: Tax List Felix Canaday gone - Felix songone -John Kennedy -gone.

1749 NC; Felix and John Kennedy or Canaday, located in the IRISH SETTLEMENT on Sills Creek

1753 NC; Anson Co, Felix Kennedy to John Kennedy (land)

1754 NC; Anson Co, 16 Mar 1754, Peter Mith to James Land, wit: John Kennedy

1753 NC; Anson Co, Felix Kennedy to John Kennedy (Became Lancaster Co. SC)

1755 NC/SC; Waxsaw - Col. Pickens Militia lists: Felix Kennedy, John Kennedy, Samuel BURNET, John Lynn

Are these our John or Felix’s John??

1757 NC ; Colony of 1735-1764 - Land Abstracts and Patents: page 163 Crown to Francis Beauty 26 Nov 1757, 200a in Anson Co, on S branch of Long , joining John Anderson, John Kennedy, Hugh McCracken, and several branches on the E side of the Cataba River.

1757 NC; Colony of 1735-1764 - Land Abstracts and Patents: page 243 Crown to John Kennedy (wife Elizabeth) 26 Nov 1757 300a in Anson Co, on the E side of the Catawba River and on both sides of Long Creek, joining John Anderson, Francis Beatey, Brevards line and a branch.

These maybe our John?? But with so many John’s it is hard to tell.

1765 NC; Rowan Co, tax list John Kennedy

1767 NC; Tyron Co, John Kennedy wit land deed: Wm Sims, Wm Marchbanks to Robt Moore wit: John Kennedy, John Clay, Patrick Moore.

1768 NC; Rowan Co, tax list John Kennedy

1768 NC; Rowan Co,Tax List of Wm Millikan/southern Guilford and northern Randolph Co. areas of old Rowan County: JOHN KENNADY/1 taxable

1768 NC; Rowan Co, John KENNEDY on Tax List

1768 NC; Rowan Co,Tax List of John Oliphant/ Iredell and Catawba Co. area: Gilbert Falls, JOHN CANNADY & James Carr/3 taxables.

1769 NC; Tryon Co, Wm Sims and Wm Marchbanks of Tryon Co, to Robert Moore of same for 50lbs prov money... 400a on both sides of Turkey Creek, granted

25 Apr 1767. Wm Sims (x), Wm Marchbanks (x), Wit: John Kennedy, John Clay, Patrich Moore. Rec. July term 1769 pp. 58-59: 28 Mar 1769

1770 NC; Rowan Co. 29Nov 1770-Deed Bk 1-"Samuel Brown, farmer & Elizabeth wf, of Rowan Co. to JAMES WILSON, farmer, of same, 300a pt of 640a grant from

Granville to Brown 22 Aug 1759. Original tract described as in Parish of St.Luke I n Rowan Co., both sides of *BUFFILO, adj Robt. Thompson to part of original tract, NOW THE PROPERTY OF JOHN KENEDY. Proved Aug 1771.

1771 NC; Rowan Co County Petition/#2-Inhabitants dwelling on the three Creeks of the Catawba River: JOHN KENINEDY [Iredell/Catawba/Burke Co. area.]

1772 NC; Rowan Co,From “The Minutes of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions, Rowan County, North Carolina 1763-1774,” by Jo White Linn: Vol 2 Pg. 136: Vol. 3:350/8 May 1772: The King vs Samuel & Benjamin Pack. Recon. to the peace towards Isaac Perkins. £40 bond with JOHN KANNADY & James Young securities.

1778 NC; Rowan Co, Tax List/Capt. Eakle’s District: John Kennedy CANETT/£200; Polls subject to fourfold tax: JAMES CANITT, JNO CANITT JR.

1778 NC; Rowan Co, Tax List of Capt. George Reed/Davidson Co. area: JOHN KENNEDY: Delinquent.

1778 NC; Burke Co, - John Kennedy, Silver Creek land 640 a on Kennedy’s Fork.

According to Joseph (son of John SR) they were in KY by 1776 with his father John KENNEDY SR. At the age of seventeen he enlisted in the militia, in Jan. 1777 serving as a spy and guard, under Capt. Daniel Boone, & was wounded in April. In the fall he visited his Uncle in NC, and while there enlisted in Oct. as a substitute for his elderly uncle, by the name of Kennedy (no first name was mentioned) in the Mecklenburg Co. troops, serving a three month tour under Col. Alexander: returning to KY in the spring of 1779.

So, who is the John still in Burke Co, NC?? John SR, John JR or yet another John ??

Another interesting document is:

1760 NC; Anson Co, 28 Oct 1760, Robt M McClenanchan and wife Elizabeth to John Castolo, witness William Kennedy.

As you know John Castillo moved to KY and then TN along with John Kennedy. In the book “Seedtime on the Cumberland” by Harriette S Arnow, it show two entries on John Kennedy: page 309... (talking about the reaction to NC possibly paying it’s Rev. Soldiers with land in the Cumberlands) All little men of the old west, some from bitter firsthand experience, knew what had by 1780 happened to the fine land in Kentucky Bluegrass. It was by that date pretty well gone to the land speculators, and men such as Castlemans, John Kennedy, John Costillo, and John Montgomery who had kept it from falling into the hands of the British, had got nothing.... (footnote 309: The Castlemans had served at Harrodsburg, the other two under Logan, Collins.) page 333... In addition there were nineteen living men who had come a bit later than the others, but these were also to get land. These included John Buchanan Sr., who had stayed behind in Kentucky for a few months while his sons and the Mulherrins cam on to build French Lick Station; the two Gais men up from Natchez, and John Kennedy and John Costillo from Kentucky.

Always more questions, and very few answers. Anyone ?? If nothing else, someone jump in and let’s see if we can throw some out!!

Joanne

jmay@hpnc.com